Sheffield United 0 Newcastle 1 – Magpies Scrape Home

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

11:21pm Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Commented 34 times

Newcastle got the result they needed tonight at Bramall Lane and kept their 8th clean sheet of the season as Argentine International Fabricio Coloccini made his long-awaited return to the side after a troublesome groin injury.

That was the good news, but the bad news is that we had to rely on a Sheffield United own goal to beat a weakened Blades’ side.

The vital first goal came after 54 minutes when Kevin Nolan took the ball from Kyle Walker 25 yards out and then gave Ryan Taylor a sight of goal.

As Ryan has the ability to do at any time – he hit a vicious shot at goal – and it cannoned off Chris Morgan to completely wrong foot goalkeeper Ian Bennett, and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

That’s one reason why we want to see Ryan play up front and he’s much better there with his shots and excellent crosses and so it proved tonight. It was good to see Danny Simpson remain at right back and Hughton brought in Tamas Kadar for his second successive game, and the young lad will be all the better for it – and he now has a 100% record at Newcastle – 2 league appearances and two wins. 😀

The youngsters are the future of the club so we take note of how they are being brought through the ranks – and although we were disappointed Nile Ranger didn’t start the game – he was brought oin after 74 minutes replacing Danny Simpson, and no doubt Chris would have had the boy on earlier if we hadn’t scored after 54 minutes.

There were surprises with the team selection with both Butt and Smith starting – but surely we cannot keep playing these two together – where ‘s the creativity?

We would have liked to have seen Guthrie start alongside Alan Smith to push up and create some chances. Nicky Butt took the captaincy tonight too.

Andy Carroll had a good game but it was his defensive headers out of defense which will no doubt receive some acclaim for his very relieved manager tonight – but it shows that Andy is slowly becoming the complete player – for one still only 20 years old.

This was much more difficult than it probably should have been – but hey – we hope to have Steven Taylor back for Saturday’s game – and that will give Chris Hughton some headaches for the home game against Peterborough.

We want Chris to have selection problems, and the lads must keep up their fair share of wins before January – draws are really not much good – and maybe then Mike Ashley will come through with the cash for new players.

It was a great result and we need more 1-0 wins because those are the scores of good teams, and it was great to see a clean sheet away from home but the Magpies had to thank veteran goalkeeper and local lad Steve Harper, who made a string of great saves to keep the clean sheet.

In the last 15 minutes Steve Harper continually came to Newcastle’s rescue with some fantastic saves, and the Newcastle goalkeeper somehow blocked Treacy’s goal-bound shot with his shins, after Treacy was left unmarked in the area 2 minutes into a 5 minute extra time period.

And Harper spread his body again just one minute later to somehow keep out Darius Henderson’s point-blank header. Maybe Steve’s not as good as Shay Given, but Steve Harper has been a top player for Newcastle so far this season.

And you have to question whether it’s luck for the Magpies, or just fantastic play from the Newcastle goalkeeper that ensured our second successive win tonight.

And it was Steve Harper’s name that was heard loud and clear at the end of the game by the Toon Army at Bramall Lane – fantastic play from the goalkeeper when it really mattered tonight!.

Marlon Harewood made a token appearance for Jonás Gutiérrez on 84 minutes, and the Argentine got warm applause from the 3,000 traveling Newcastle fans, as he left the pitch.

So we again had some luck tonight – but a win is a win – and maybe some day we may even start to play some good football. 😀

It’s pleasing we can be below our best but still get the win, so that’s 6 points from the last 2 games, and now 8 points form the last 6 games, with Peterborough United the visitors on Saturday afternoon, and we can take nothing for granted in that game, even though Peterborough are now 2nd bottom.

It should be an easy game, but hey, you just never know, and we’ll take the 3 points, however we can get them.

If we can indeed beat the side that eliminated us from the Carling Cup on Saturday, we’ll have a decent win streak of 3 going, as we head into the International break.

And we nearly forgot – this was Chris Hughton’s first game in charge as permanent manager on Tyneside – so he certainly got the right result.

We are again top of the league and 2 points clear of WBA in second place and with a goal difference of +13, which at some point we need to improve – since it’s worth a point at the end of the season.

Don’t forget to put your vote in for the man of the match on our home page – thanks – and for a parting cry for tonight – Howay The Lads!!

that ref was a disgrace, Taylors booking in the 1st was a joke, as was Carroll’s.

the number of decisions that inexplicably went sheff utd’s way all game was ridiculous, he certainly needs this performance analysing by his bosses because he had an absolute shocker.

and yes, nolan probably did foul walker in the build up to the goal, but it took a slowmo replay to point that out, so blackweel moaning is all well and good, but the fact of the matter is his team were crapper than us, and we were pretty dire ourselves.

In fact, only Chelsea and Leeds have a better defensive record than us in whole of four leagues (both 8 against, and Chelsea have only played 11 games). And Chelsea have been the masters at winning ugly. So why are complaining? Happy days – let’s keep it up.

Funny that we play poorly with BUTT in the team-Strange thing that. We don`t control the midfield when he plays. We aint a great team at all but we are still on top. We need reinforcements with a fast striker and a creative Midfielder.

Steve harper saved a tactically inept managers blushes i mean wtf all butt and smith did was get in each others way ranger must start his hold up play is far better than carroll and his passing is far superior. on a side note shay given showed tonight how much he still loves the toon with that cheshire cat grin yeh he may live there but the guys still one of us.

shit first half, got a bit better 2nd, well done C arrol ,my man of match Enrique,and Stevie H, where did you pull that one from,top of the league, going to bed happy, oh and Butt you were shit good night

Said it 10000’s time before, you CANNOT AND MUST NOT start with one up front. It is the most negative statement of intent. I havent heard a valid arguement as to why Ranger doesnt start with Carroll. Some ppl slate them but they are the best we have. FACT Ranger is young and fitness wise is prob last a full 48 game season unlike M.Tortoisewood. We have a decent defence in this league so why does Hughton insist on away games to be so negative. It puts more pressure on us in the end, and ultimately we were lucky today. Yes a win is good but im worried scrappy victories put the team in a false light. 3-0 home win please next. Starting with 2 thats TWO up front.

I’m just so blown away by Steve Harper… He’s been with us since -93 and been no. 2/3 for some 16 years (!!) behind Pavel, Shaka and Shay, he’s been out on loan to Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County, Hartlepool United and Huddersfield. And! Then, when he suddenly finds himself playing every match he’s just pure class — best in the fizzy pop league by miles. I’m norwegian so I might be a little emotionally out of touch with the clubs history, but for me he’s up there with the truly great ones. Anyone else hearing “Local Hero” playing in their heads head? 😛

butt by name, butt by nature. I knew as soon as the teamsheet was put out that we would struggle. need 2 upfront (Carrol and Ranger, jonas and r tayl on wings with smith and nolan in centre)then enrique, tayls kadar and simpson. Hugton dont have the balls to play that though. Coward!!!! SpinelEss !!!!! Puppet !!!!

Lads, I said on another thread that my MOM was Kadar for a number of reasons.

I think the lad deserves a huge amount of credit tonight as numerous previous defenders to wear our strip would have easily cost us tonight.

You might not be mentioning him much because the commentators didnt mention him, for me, that also confirms he was awesome tonight. Got his head down, got the tackles in and on one occassion, asctually dribbled the ball out of the back and looked very, very good.

This isnt a player we know much about lads, give him some credit. We all know about Carrol, Harps etc.

Gritty hard earned win away from home against a very physical team. Their two centre halves!!!!

A good team performance, with special mention to Enrique, Carroll (my man of the match) Harper and…..Ed Case my thoughts exactly regarding young Kadar. Know what you mean late in the second half when he came out dribbling the ball like a midfielder. Another kid with huge promise. He would have been especially chuffed to play as Hungary would be picking up that game, as they follow Sheff Utd seing as how their owner also owns Farencvaros.

At the match tonight. Kadar, Collo and Simpson were very good. Enrique is the best left back in the division, by a long long way. Not only is he very solid defensively but he is our main attacking threat, which is quite worrying. Hopefully Ashley will see some sense and not sell him in January. Fair enough let him go in the summer if we don’t go up.

Nicky Butt is *ucking shambolic. Enough said.

Definitely need to start with 2 strikers as well. We are playing very average football teams, even away from home, there is no need for Hughton to bottle 4-4-2.

We were lucky to-night to win it was very poor game. We really need to strengthen the side by at least 4 players centre back creative midfielder & wing forward & goalscorer in January.Send Marlon Marwood back Tactics late on in the match why oh why did Chris Houghton bring on Marlon Marwood He’s about as much good as a goat & take of Jonas takes some believing. We need Steve Taylor & Kadar in the centre & please don’t play Fabricio Coloccini he’s liability.

The players that need special mentions are Steve Harper, Jose Enrique,Tamas Kadar, Andy Carroll. to lesser degree Kevin Nolan, Ryan Taylor & Jonas Gutierrez & it was disgrace to replace him with Timberland In my opinion who did not preform on the night Danny Simpson,Nicky Butt,Fabricio Coloccini,

The Referee was absolutely Crap & his surname was Friend certainly not to Newcastle, where do they dig these officials from ?

My man of the match was Harper for obvious reasons, but damned if Enrique didn’t have a fantastic game as well. He was easily the most creative player on the field. Butt didn’t suck for a change. Colo played extremely well, saved the kid’s ass on a few occasions, and even had a shot at goal!

In all honesty I think Andy Carroll had one of his best ever games for us last night. He stood up to the challenge of the ever filthy bstard Morgan and showed he had good technique on the ball as well, a few times I remember seeing him running with the ball and taking people on, and he’s actually quite pacey once he gets going..Obviously, Harper was the man of the match, no question about it, enrique was good. I think Coloccini last night strengthened our defence, still a bit shakey at times but we looked a lot more assured with him in the side

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health update

My latest bone scans and CAT scans were completed on Wednesday of this week and yesterday I met with my oncologist Dr. Dhruva to look over the results.

The stage four cancer remains stabilized and has not spread any further over the last six months.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in early 2017 after being in remission for six years.

The cancer metastasized through the bones to different parts of the body and the treatment I am undergoing is hormone treatment.

There is no cure for stage 4 cancer but there are treatments (like Hormone treatment) that attempt to prolong life.

I am upbeat with the results and remain in awe of the doctors and nurses at the Rex Cancer Center here in Raleigh.

It's truly humbling to see how inspiring they are with their patients.

Ed Harrison

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